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July 5, 2016 • Headline News
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UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING JULY 7, 2016 11:30 A.M.
Repairs made on Milan dam
Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
It took five years, but the Milan Dam will probably last another 100 years since the long-awaited and much-needed repairs were completed last week. “Today is a great day for Milan,” State Rep. Randy Frye said at the rehabilitation site near the elementary school on June 23. Frye had been instrumental in getting the state, town and CSX railroad to work together to rehabilitate and fund the repairs. He, along with members of the town council and Southeast Indiana Regional Planning Commission (SIRPC) leaders, had gathered to celebrate the milestone.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTO
Celebrating the dam repairs are left, Jodie Comer of SIRPC, Milan council member Don Call, Jeff Meinders with C&HM Excavating, State Rep. Randy Frye, Susan Craig of SIRPC, council members Melissa Baker and Noel Houze and Milan attorney Larry Eaton, all town board members.
The prep work actually started two weeks ago, but the railroad had to be shut down for about four days in order to complete the dam repairs. The dam and lake were built in the 1800s to help provide water for steam engines on the railroad. However, in 1949, with new technology for engines, the railroad did not need it anymore and handed it over to the town of Milan to maintain.
However, the dam was not maintained as it should have been, for whatever reason, Frye said, and the state Dept. of Natural Resources told town leaders it either had to be repaired or breached. It was a costly repair though. No one wanted to pay for the estimated $2 million price-tag, nor did they want to drain the lake. The lake is an attractive amenity for residents since it borders the golf course and local park, and provides fishing. Frye contacted the CEO of CSX railroad who was familiar with the area, and agreed to fund $1 million to rehabilitate the dam, but the town still didn’t have the remaining $1 million needed. However, Susan Craig with regional planning with the Office of Community Rural Association stepped in, and worked with the town’s attorney and members to fund the rest of the project.
“This is a tremendous win when we all work together. We now have a lake for many many years,” Frye said. Milan Town Attorney Larry Eaton said it’s good for Milan in the long run, and joked it was the “second miracle for Milan!” The project came in under bid from local contractor C&HM Excavating. Jeff Meinders with C&HM said they did prep work for about two weeks prior, excavating 700 yards of material to install box culverts and replace sub ballast material to set the rail base. His crew and CSX worked together to place the old pipes with a concrete one. The railway sits on top of the culverts.
South Ripley FFA wins state quiz bowl
The South Ripley FFA Quiz Bowl Team won 1st in the Indiana FFA Quiz Bowl Career Development Event at the Indiana FFA Convention held at Purdue University. The award was presented on the final day of the convention on June 16. South Ripley FFA Quiz Bowl team members were Brook Elston, Lydia Comer, Jessica Vogel, and Luke Thomas coached by Eldon Cutter, interim FFA Advisor.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
The South Ripley FFA Quiz Bowl Team won 1st place in the Indiana FFA Quiz Bowl Career Development Event held at Purdue University recently. Pictured above from left are FFA interim advisor Eldon Cutter, Jessica Vogel, Lydia Comer, Brook Elston, and Luke Thomas.
The FFA Quiz Bowl CDE is a leadership contest in which students answer questions pertaining to FFA and agriculture. The competition began when students competed to represent the chapter at the district level competition in March to advance to the state level competition during the Indiana FFA Convention.
Other highlights
Also during the Indiana FFA Convention, Amanda Hansen won 4th place award in Indiana in the Diversified Crop Production-Placement Proficiency. Parker Jahnigen was invited to perform his dance routine at the National FFA Convention in October. Kayla Adkinson and Lindsay Comer received the Indiana FFA Degree; Emma Stuehrenberg sang in the Indiana FFA Choir; Hanna Speer, Sammy Burns, Michaela Diem and Miya Shepard competed in the Vet Science CDE (results to be announce later); and Brenden Jeffries and Eli Stuehrenberg attended. Lydia Comer and Brook Elston were the SR FFA voting delegates at the district, section, and state business sessions.
While at the convention, students attended the sessions, leadership and agriculture workshops, and toured the Purdue University campus. They heard state and national motivational speakers including Scott McCain, former Indiana State FFA and National Officer; and Taylor McNeel, 2015-16 National President.
Local Bulletin Board
Application deadline is Friday, August 5.
Tyson Fund grant applications available
Many years ago, before Jim Tyson passed away, he wanted to set up a system to perpetually assist the residents in Versailles with things that might otherwise increase their taxes. He decided that he would set up a trust so that groups that are nonprofit and hold an IRS 501c (3) or (4) exemption could request funds to help them out with projects that would otherwise fall on the taxpayers in the Versailles area! For more information about the Tyson Fund, eligibility and how to apply read page 2 of the Osgood Journal dated June 14.
Contest is set for July 17.
Applications available for county queen contest
The Ripley County Queen Contest is set for July 17. To enter the pageant, contestants must be 16 years old and cannot be over 21 by the time of the 4-H fair for this year, which starts July 23. Read the rules and more details on page 2 of the Osgood Journal dated May 31.
UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING JULY 7, 2016 11:30 A.M.
Repairs made on Milan dam
Mary Mattingly
EDITOR
mmattingly@ripleynews.com
It took five years, but the Milan Dam will probably last another 100 years since the long-awaited and much-needed repairs were completed last week. “Today is a great day for Milan,” State Rep. Randy Frye said at the rehabilitation site near the elementary school on June 23. Frye had been instrumental in getting the state, town and CSX railroad to work together to rehabilitate and fund the repairs. He, along with members of the town council and Southeast Indiana Regional Planning Commission (SIRPC) leaders, had gathered to celebrate the milestone.
MARY MATTINGLY PHOTOCelebrating the dam repairs are left, Jodie Comer of SIRPC, Milan council member Don Call, Jeff Meinders with C&HM Excavating, State Rep. Randy Frye, Susan Craig of SIRPC, council members Melissa Baker and Noel Houze and Milan attorney Larry Eaton, all town board members.
The prep work actually started two weeks ago, but the railroad had to be shut down for about four days in order to complete the dam repairs. The dam and lake were built in the 1800s to help provide water for steam engines on the railroad. However, in 1949, with new technology for engines, the railroad did not need it anymore and handed it over to the town of Milan to maintain.
However, the dam was not maintained as it should have been, for whatever reason, Frye said, and the state Dept. of Natural Resources told town leaders it either had to be repaired or breached. It was a costly repair though. No one wanted to pay for the estimated $2 million price-tag, nor did they want to drain the lake. The lake is an attractive amenity for residents since it borders the golf course and local park, and provides fishing. Frye contacted the CEO of CSX railroad who was familiar with the area, and agreed to fund $1 million to rehabilitate the dam, but the town still didn’t have the remaining $1 million needed. However, Susan Craig with regional planning with the Office of Community Rural Association stepped in, and worked with the town’s attorney and members to fund the rest of the project.
“This is a tremendous win when we all work together. We now have a lake for many many years,” Frye said. Milan Town Attorney Larry Eaton said it’s good for Milan in the long run, and joked it was the “second miracle for Milan!” The project came in under bid from local contractor C&HM Excavating. Jeff Meinders with C&HM said they did prep work for about two weeks prior, excavating 700 yards of material to install box culverts and replace sub ballast material to set the rail base. His crew and CSX worked together to place the old pipes with a concrete one. The railway sits on top of the culverts.
South Ripley FFA wins state quiz bowl
The South Ripley FFA Quiz Bowl Team won 1st in the Indiana FFA Quiz Bowl Career Development Event at the Indiana FFA Convention held at Purdue University. The award was presented on the final day of the convention on June 16. South Ripley FFA Quiz Bowl team members were Brook Elston, Lydia Comer, Jessica Vogel, and Luke Thomas coached by Eldon Cutter, interim FFA Advisor.
SUBMITTED PHOTOThe South Ripley FFA Quiz Bowl Team won 1st place in the Indiana FFA Quiz Bowl Career Development Event held at Purdue University recently. Pictured above from left are FFA interim advisor Eldon Cutter, Jessica Vogel, Lydia Comer, Brook Elston, and Luke Thomas.
The FFA Quiz Bowl CDE is a leadership contest in which students answer questions pertaining to FFA and agriculture. The competition began when students competed to represent the chapter at the district level competition in March to advance to the state level competition during the Indiana FFA Convention.
Other highlights
Also during the Indiana FFA Convention, Amanda Hansen won 4th place award in Indiana in the Diversified Crop Production-Placement Proficiency. Parker Jahnigen was invited to perform his dance routine at the National FFA Convention in October. Kayla Adkinson and Lindsay Comer received the Indiana FFA Degree; Emma Stuehrenberg sang in the Indiana FFA Choir; Hanna Speer, Sammy Burns, Michaela Diem and Miya Shepard competed in the Vet Science CDE (results to be announce later); and Brenden Jeffries and Eli Stuehrenberg attended. Lydia Comer and Brook Elston were the SR FFA voting delegates at the district, section, and state business sessions.
While at the convention, students attended the sessions, leadership and agriculture workshops, and toured the Purdue University campus. They heard state and national motivational speakers including Scott McCain, former Indiana State FFA and National Officer; and Taylor McNeel, 2015-16 National President.
Local Bulletin Board
Application deadline is Friday, August 5.
Tyson Fund grant applications available
Many years ago, before Jim Tyson passed away, he wanted to set up a system to perpetually assist the residents in Versailles with things that might otherwise increase their taxes. He decided that he would set up a trust so that groups that are nonprofit and hold an IRS 501c (3) or (4) exemption could request funds to help them out with projects that would otherwise fall on the taxpayers in the Versailles area! For more information about the Tyson Fund, eligibility and how to apply read page 2 of the Osgood Journal dated June 14.
Contest is set for July 17.
Applications available for county queen contest
The Ripley County Queen Contest is set for July 17. To enter the pageant, contestants must be 16 years old and cannot be over 21 by the time of the 4-H fair for this year, which starts July 23. Read the rules and more details on page 2 of the Osgood Journal dated May 31.
